Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Titan Books (2021), 261 pages
Description
Fantasy. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK Filled with all of the action, emotion, and lyrical writing that brought readers to Sky in the Deep, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with Fable, the first book in this new captivating duology. Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men. As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It's been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father. But her father's rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive. Fable takes you on a spectacular journey filled with romance, intrigue and adventure..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member oceancat
Fable has been stuck on the island of Jeval since her father abandoned her there four years ago. She’s scraped by diving for gems until she can buy passage off the island, but the ship she secures passage on is not the simple trading ship it seems. Naturally, adventure awaits! This was a really
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fun book, with deep sea diving, shady traders that are almost pirates, and a crew formed of a bunch of outcasts. The found family trope is my favorite, and I loved it here. The perilous seas and coral reefs are described beautifully, I could practically smell the salt water. I have not read Adrienne Young’s previous books, but I will definitely fix that now. My only real complaint is that it is a series which, you know what that means, cliffhanger ending. But that seems to happen in almost every YA series so, what can you do? We’ll just have to wait for the sequel! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review Show Less
LibraryThing member AStoriedSoul
Fable is the only daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, and the sea is the only home she's ever known. After watching her mother drown and their family's ship sink after a brutal storm, her father leaves her on the cutthroat island of Jeval the next day with a promise--survive, make
I absolutely adore Fable, and I think this is one of Adrienne Young's best novels so far. I also feel like this is a huge thing for me to say, because I usually do not gravitate toward books that are set on the high seas, deal with pirates, or such. THIS TOTALLY CHANGED MY MIND.
READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW HERE: A STORIED SOUL
Disclaimer: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Receipt of this ARC did not influence my opinions; my opinions are my own.
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it off the island, and he will give her what he owes her. Fable ekes out a meager life on Jeval, trading and saving for her passage off the island while trying to stay alive. To get back to her father, she succeeds in hiring the help of a mysterious trader named West and his crew. However, West has enemies, and the trading industry has only become more cutthroat and deadly, and she soon learns that even West isn't who he seems. Together, Fable, West, and his crew will have to learn to trust each other and survive if they're to survive the seas.I absolutely adore Fable, and I think this is one of Adrienne Young's best novels so far. I also feel like this is a huge thing for me to say, because I usually do not gravitate toward books that are set on the high seas, deal with pirates, or such. THIS TOTALLY CHANGED MY MIND.
READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW HERE: A STORIED SOUL
Disclaimer: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Receipt of this ARC did not influence my opinions; my opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
There are heroines for whom leadership is thrust upon them. These are the girls who reluctantly rise to greatness, which usually involves some major soul-searching and testing of their fortitude. Then, there are those heroines like Fable by Adrienne Young. These girls know their strengths and
Fable is T-O-U-G-H. Not only does she survive for four years on an island of thieves and cutthroats living by herself, but she also free-dives like she was born underwater, stares down potential rapists, and faces danger with a clear, pragmatic head. Yet, Ms. Young lets us know just how fragile she is underneath that cool exterior. After all, being abandoned as a preteen by your father after being told you weren’t meant for this life, is going to leave emotional scars, of which Fable has plenty.
One of the best things about Fable, outside of the fact that she can kick some major ass, is her self-awareness. She may have daddy issues, but she doesn’t (always) let them interfere with what she needs to accomplish. She knows her strengths and plays to them. Also, she has the ability to read others’ body language, which helps tremendously in her situational awareness.
For most of the novel, Fable does everything right no matter what the world throws her way. She sets goals, follows her instincts, observes, and acts appropriately, and eventually achieves her goals. This does not mean the story is boring. In fact, the story is exciting as she finds her plans thwarted at every step through no fault of her own and must constantly adapt. There is only one mistake she makes throughout the course of the novel, which ultimately sets up the cliffhanger ending to leave you wanting more, and boy do I want more.
Fable is not a long read. Personally, I finished it in the course of a few hours. This is partly because it is not a very long novel at 368 pages but also because I did not want to stop reading. I found myself so engrossed in her story that I could not put it down. In addition, with its tropical setting, Fable is the perfect antidote to a gloomy autumnal weekend.
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weaknesses, both physical and mental, and have no problems rushing headlong into danger for the right reasons.Fable is T-O-U-G-H. Not only does she survive for four years on an island of thieves and cutthroats living by herself, but she also free-dives like she was born underwater, stares down potential rapists, and faces danger with a clear, pragmatic head. Yet, Ms. Young lets us know just how fragile she is underneath that cool exterior. After all, being abandoned as a preteen by your father after being told you weren’t meant for this life, is going to leave emotional scars, of which Fable has plenty.
One of the best things about Fable, outside of the fact that she can kick some major ass, is her self-awareness. She may have daddy issues, but she doesn’t (always) let them interfere with what she needs to accomplish. She knows her strengths and plays to them. Also, she has the ability to read others’ body language, which helps tremendously in her situational awareness.
For most of the novel, Fable does everything right no matter what the world throws her way. She sets goals, follows her instincts, observes, and acts appropriately, and eventually achieves her goals. This does not mean the story is boring. In fact, the story is exciting as she finds her plans thwarted at every step through no fault of her own and must constantly adapt. There is only one mistake she makes throughout the course of the novel, which ultimately sets up the cliffhanger ending to leave you wanting more, and boy do I want more.
Fable is not a long read. Personally, I finished it in the course of a few hours. This is partly because it is not a very long novel at 368 pages but also because I did not want to stop reading. I found myself so engrossed in her story that I could not put it down. In addition, with its tropical setting, Fable is the perfect antidote to a gloomy autumnal weekend.
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LibraryThing member sennebec
Devoured this in an evening. Loved the setting, characters and intrigue. However, the ending made me feel like I had been sucker punched by someone springing from a dark alley. The sequel better explain that as I was like "Say What!?!"
LibraryThing member RachDani
This book wasn't what I was hoping for. I loved the Sky in the Deep duology and was hoping for something similar. This wasn't it.
First, what I did like.
I love how Adrienne Young writes. She's one of the few writers I can think of that manages to write "flowery" but still not dredge the whole book
I loved the setting and the idea of the book. It doesn't mince words when it comes to the hard realities, and the setting is (what should be) an interesting, vibrant, harsh world. Plus, it's a kind of pirate story.
Now what didn't work for me.
The characters: For some reason, I never really connected with any of them. They were interesting, but felt flat. I wanted to care, but I didn't really get to know any of them well enough to care. Even with Fable, I felt like she was missing something. The most emotion I felt in the book was during the last 20 pages or so...way to long to feel something for the characters.
For me, the plot was a little boring. There's all this potential for action, but there isn't any. For example, in the beginning, we get to meet Fable and see what she does to survive, but there isn't any depth to it. It's like a quick summary...which is ok except that all of the book feels like a summary of events. The storms, the merchant shops, all of it. Another example, (spoiler alert) there is no real build up to finding the Lark. This is the whole point of the story really, to find the ship and make her own way, but it is VERY anticlimactic. And brief. It really disappointed me.
I also was disappointed that this ended in a cliff hanger, but that's a personal dislike. I was not expecting the book to continue directly into the next one, but to be more like Sky in the Deep, where we get the same world, same basic setting, but a different POV.
Overall, I would give it 3 stars, mostly because I love the writing.
First, what I did like.
I love how Adrienne Young writes. She's one of the few writers I can think of that manages to write "flowery" but still not dredge the whole book
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down with description. She uses beautiful language to make you experience her words. I loved the setting and the idea of the book. It doesn't mince words when it comes to the hard realities, and the setting is (what should be) an interesting, vibrant, harsh world. Plus, it's a kind of pirate story.
Now what didn't work for me.
The characters: For some reason, I never really connected with any of them. They were interesting, but felt flat. I wanted to care, but I didn't really get to know any of them well enough to care. Even with Fable, I felt like she was missing something. The most emotion I felt in the book was during the last 20 pages or so...way to long to feel something for the characters.
For me, the plot was a little boring. There's all this potential for action, but there isn't any. For example, in the beginning, we get to meet Fable and see what she does to survive, but there isn't any depth to it. It's like a quick summary...which is ok except that all of the book feels like a summary of events. The storms, the merchant shops, all of it. Another example, (spoiler alert) there is no real build up to finding the Lark. This is the whole point of the story really, to find the ship and make her own way, but it is VERY anticlimactic. And brief. It really disappointed me.
I also was disappointed that this ended in a cliff hanger, but that's a personal dislike. I was not expecting the book to continue directly into the next one, but to be more like Sky in the Deep, where we get the same world, same basic setting, but a different POV.
Overall, I would give it 3 stars, mostly because I love the writing.
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LibraryThing member mclara9
Adrienne Young's writing is superb! Not to mention her worldbuilding. She created a culture and meticulously fleshes out the character. This is shown as she gives everyone a back story. And no, it does not make the book drag. Rather, it gives life to the narrative. What is powerful about Young's
Fable lost her innocence the moment she was abandoned by her father on an island where you don't make friends, only enemies. In a world where there is no grace, only exchange of favors, Fable has to be astute and attentive. When troubles arise, she ends up as an unwelcome passenger of the Marigold. There she meets a group of waterside strays who might just be as canny as her because of their desperation to survive. She is not seeking to reach out to be a part of them, but sometimes camaraderie sneaks up on you and you have to decide if you will become each other's greatest fear or partner to survive the Narrows.
And then that ending came with the worst cliff-hanger and now I'm left wondering how can I get my hands on the sequel ;)
*I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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storytelling is that she shows how everyone carries their own blindspots and motives, things that must be hidden deeply because they are the strongest weapon against you. In each page, layers are peeled and in it the art and heart of a gifted wordsmith.Fable lost her innocence the moment she was abandoned by her father on an island where you don't make friends, only enemies. In a world where there is no grace, only exchange of favors, Fable has to be astute and attentive. When troubles arise, she ends up as an unwelcome passenger of the Marigold. There she meets a group of waterside strays who might just be as canny as her because of their desperation to survive. She is not seeking to reach out to be a part of them, but sometimes camaraderie sneaks up on you and you have to decide if you will become each other's greatest fear or partner to survive the Narrows.
And then that ending came with the worst cliff-hanger and now I'm left wondering how can I get my hands on the sequel ;)
*I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
Series Info/Source: I borrowed this ebook from my Library. This is the first book in the Fable duology. Previous to reading this I read Young’s “Sky in the Deep” duology which I enjoyed.
Story (5/5): This was an amazing fantasy adventure story about the daughter, named Fable, of a powerful
Characters (5/5): Fable is one tough girl. It’s hard not to love her because she is so tough, yet still finds room to care about the people around her and be loyal to them. The crew she joins on the ship Marigold is amazing as well. They all have a lot of depth to them and have very detailed back stories. They are fun characters to adventure with and characters I grew to love spending time with.
Setting (5/5): This book jumps between different islands, ships, and trading towns. They are all well described and easy to picture. I loved the locations because I felt like I was actually on the adventure with Fable, the scenes and settings just really come alive!
Writing Style (5/5): I enjoyed Young’s “Sky in the Deep” duology but this book was so much better. Young has certainly found her writing stride here. The pacing is perfect, the descriptions of surroundings are phenomenal and make the settings easy to picture, the characterization was incredibly well done, and I loved the story. I am on a huge adventure fantasy kick right now and this book definitely hit the mark. I could not put this down and stayed up way too late reading it. Everything about this was flawless.
My Summary (5/5): Overall this was an amazing fantasy adventure read that I adored. I can’t wait to read the follow-up book “Namesake” which should be out as of the time of this review posting. I would strongly recommend this to fans of fantasy adventure, especially pirating types of adventure stories. This book was so hard to put down and just such a pleasure to read.
Story (5/5): This was an amazing fantasy adventure story about the daughter, named Fable, of a powerful
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trader. Her father leaves her on a cutthroat island to survive after a horrible shipwreck. When Fable’s finally scraped together enough money to leave the island she ends up on a treasure hunt while dodging various baddies. It’s a very well done story that is fast-paced, has some really interesting yet subtle magic, and is somehow very heartfelt as well. I absolutely loved this story and was completely engrossed in it.Characters (5/5): Fable is one tough girl. It’s hard not to love her because she is so tough, yet still finds room to care about the people around her and be loyal to them. The crew she joins on the ship Marigold is amazing as well. They all have a lot of depth to them and have very detailed back stories. They are fun characters to adventure with and characters I grew to love spending time with.
Setting (5/5): This book jumps between different islands, ships, and trading towns. They are all well described and easy to picture. I loved the locations because I felt like I was actually on the adventure with Fable, the scenes and settings just really come alive!
Writing Style (5/5): I enjoyed Young’s “Sky in the Deep” duology but this book was so much better. Young has certainly found her writing stride here. The pacing is perfect, the descriptions of surroundings are phenomenal and make the settings easy to picture, the characterization was incredibly well done, and I loved the story. I am on a huge adventure fantasy kick right now and this book definitely hit the mark. I could not put this down and stayed up way too late reading it. Everything about this was flawless.
My Summary (5/5): Overall this was an amazing fantasy adventure read that I adored. I can’t wait to read the follow-up book “Namesake” which should be out as of the time of this review posting. I would strongly recommend this to fans of fantasy adventure, especially pirating types of adventure stories. This book was so hard to put down and just such a pleasure to read.
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LibraryThing member Allison_Krajewski
Fable is the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows. Now seventeen, she has spent the last four years on Jeval -- an island notorious for thieves and little food -- doing everything she can to scrape together enough money to return to her father and get what she has earned: a place on
This was my third Adrienne Young book I have read (after Sky in the Deep and The Girl the Sea Gave Back), and it was my favorite of the three. This book was really good, and so much darker than I anticipated. Fable is a tough character, and I really liked her. She was a little naive, but also tough and strong after her time on Jeval. The plot was really well-told, the other characters were really fleshed out, and the story itself was exciting. The only thing I didn't quite like was the romance -- it did feel a little sudden (though it was obvious that's where it was going) -- but overall it made sense, and I like those two characters together.
The ending left on a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to dive into the sequel!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
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his crew. She enlists help from West, a young trader who she has been trading pyre with for the last two years. But she soon finds West is not who he seems, and her father's enemies have grown more numerous in the last few years. To survive, she must learn to trust West and his crew.This was my third Adrienne Young book I have read (after Sky in the Deep and The Girl the Sea Gave Back), and it was my favorite of the three. This book was really good, and so much darker than I anticipated. Fable is a tough character, and I really liked her. She was a little naive, but also tough and strong after her time on Jeval. The plot was really well-told, the other characters were really fleshed out, and the story itself was exciting. The only thing I didn't quite like was the romance -- it did feel a little sudden (though it was obvious that's where it was going) -- but overall it made sense, and I like those two characters together.
The ending left on a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to dive into the sequel!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
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LibraryThing member AmyM3317
Fable was born and raised on the sea. The daughter of a notorious trader father and a dredger mother—someone who dives for precious gems hidden beneath the water’s surface—Fable was stranded by her father the day after a storm sunk their ship and killed nearly everyone on board.
Now, four
Adrienne Young has now done for the swashbuckling pirate story what she did for Vikings in her debut Sky in the Deep. She has a penchant for writing solitary characters who find themselves in precarious situations, often fighting for their lives, but injects so much heart and perseverance into the story that I cannot help but compulsively read.
Fable is another such heroine. I loved her characterization, all the characterizations really. This is a world where you look out for yourself and any and all connections, relationships, loyalties are dangerous because they show vulnerability to any and all that would expose such. Fable herself would use someone else’s vulnerability if it meant saving her life or the lives of the people she cares about, but you also know that she’s not unnecessarily cruel. It’s an interesting dynamic.
One that is especially highlighted in the interactions between Fable and Saint—her father whom she’s discouraged from claiming. Typically, I would find a father who abandons his young daughter to fend for herself or die trying rather abhorrent. But in Adrienne Young’s hands he becomes a man who has lived too long in his role and has lost so much along the way. Their relationship is so rocky, yet I cannot help but see glimpses of love that are overshadowed by fear of losing again. It’s something I hope we see develop more in the sequel.
Not to be outdone of course is the tentative alliance between West and his crew of the Marigold. I loved this small group of traders each with their own story who have grown into this quasi-family due to the fact that they rely upon each other to pull their weight and do their job on the ship. Fable kind of thrusts herself into their orbit by enlisting their help, and as much as she tries, she can’t keep herself from being curious about this crew. But in the Narrows it’s a curiosity that could cost someone their life. So proceed with caution.
I’m just going to say it: Fable ends on a pretty major cliffhanger. I was just thinking how it’s been awhile since a book has ended in such a way where I felt that gut punch, but I felt it here. Luckily, its sequel Namesake will be out in March with plenty of mysteries left to unravel. Not too long to wait. Right?
Now, four
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years later, Fable wants more than anything to get back to her father. To show him she’s a survivor, and to get what he promised her when he abandoned her. She enlists the help of the Marigold and its helmsman West to get her back to her father, but the journey through the Narrows will prove more difficult than she bargained for. Her father’s business enterprise has grown exponentially since she’s been away, and so has his list of enemies, and Fable begins to questions the secrets West and his crew are determined to keep close to the chest.Adrienne Young has now done for the swashbuckling pirate story what she did for Vikings in her debut Sky in the Deep. She has a penchant for writing solitary characters who find themselves in precarious situations, often fighting for their lives, but injects so much heart and perseverance into the story that I cannot help but compulsively read.
Fable is another such heroine. I loved her characterization, all the characterizations really. This is a world where you look out for yourself and any and all connections, relationships, loyalties are dangerous because they show vulnerability to any and all that would expose such. Fable herself would use someone else’s vulnerability if it meant saving her life or the lives of the people she cares about, but you also know that she’s not unnecessarily cruel. It’s an interesting dynamic.
One that is especially highlighted in the interactions between Fable and Saint—her father whom she’s discouraged from claiming. Typically, I would find a father who abandons his young daughter to fend for herself or die trying rather abhorrent. But in Adrienne Young’s hands he becomes a man who has lived too long in his role and has lost so much along the way. Their relationship is so rocky, yet I cannot help but see glimpses of love that are overshadowed by fear of losing again. It’s something I hope we see develop more in the sequel.
Not to be outdone of course is the tentative alliance between West and his crew of the Marigold. I loved this small group of traders each with their own story who have grown into this quasi-family due to the fact that they rely upon each other to pull their weight and do their job on the ship. Fable kind of thrusts herself into their orbit by enlisting their help, and as much as she tries, she can’t keep herself from being curious about this crew. But in the Narrows it’s a curiosity that could cost someone their life. So proceed with caution.
I’m just going to say it: Fable ends on a pretty major cliffhanger. I was just thinking how it’s been awhile since a book has ended in such a way where I felt that gut punch, but I felt it here. Luckily, its sequel Namesake will be out in March with plenty of mysteries left to unravel. Not too long to wait. Right?
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LibraryThing member bookappeal
Fable survives by diving deep under the water to dredge up precious materials she can trade for coin. But her success makes her a target. She negotiates passage with a trader she hopes she can trust, intending to reunite with the father who abandoned her after his ship went down in a storm, killing
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Fable's mother. Fable has to figure out how to carve out a place for herself among the crew of the Marigold during the journey. But something about the Marigold's operaton doesn't make sense and Fable is certain she isn't the only person on the ship harboring dangerous secrets. A fun, engaging, pirate-type story with a skilled but flawed main character who uses her wits to survive one dangerous situation after another. This is the first book of a duology and I'm looking forward to diving into the second half. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kiaya40
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for letting me read and review this interesting story. I have only read one or two other of Adrienne Young's books and they all seem to be written in the same way although they have different stories told in each one, of course.
I liked this one alright, but
This is a pirate story with adventure, intrigue, some romance, and troubled relationships with family and such. There's a lot of great and exciting journey while figuring out how to find their way in the cutthroat world of pirates, slavery, and such. Fable finds a way to get back to her father after having been left by him on an island after her mother died 4 years earlier because she wants to be on the crew and sail with her father, who is the most powerful trader in the Narrows. She recruits and becomes friends with a trader, West, and his crew to help her to get back to her father so she can claim her rightful spot on her father's ship as his crew member.
But there's more that Fable doesn't know about West and who he is and about the rivalries and dangers of the trading business that her father runs so they have to survive through worse than the Narrows to beat all the things that come up in their path.
If you like Adrienne Young's writing and other books, or pirate books with intrigue, secrets, treachery, and romance with a strong female MC that goes through a lot and still keeps on going no matter what then you'll enjoy this one too!
I liked this one alright, but
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it was a bit of a letdown for me in comparison to all the hype, which seems to be a common occurrence for me with books that have a lot of hype. After reading and finishing the story, thinking about it for a little while, and letting it speak for itself, I liked it more than when I had been interested because of the hype. This is a pirate story with adventure, intrigue, some romance, and troubled relationships with family and such. There's a lot of great and exciting journey while figuring out how to find their way in the cutthroat world of pirates, slavery, and such. Fable finds a way to get back to her father after having been left by him on an island after her mother died 4 years earlier because she wants to be on the crew and sail with her father, who is the most powerful trader in the Narrows. She recruits and becomes friends with a trader, West, and his crew to help her to get back to her father so she can claim her rightful spot on her father's ship as his crew member.
But there's more that Fable doesn't know about West and who he is and about the rivalries and dangers of the trading business that her father runs so they have to survive through worse than the Narrows to beat all the things that come up in their path.
If you like Adrienne Young's writing and other books, or pirate books with intrigue, secrets, treachery, and romance with a strong female MC that goes through a lot and still keeps on going no matter what then you'll enjoy this one too!
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LibraryThing member Danielle.Desrochers
3.5 stars. I didn’t love this, but I did really like it and will definitely be reading the second one.
LibraryThing member Enid007
So uhm yea, this was eh!. Once again I do not do well with overly hyped book, I felt into buying this book because I absolutely love the cover and like I previously stated in my updates it came highly recommended but this book is so slow paced even for me that I honestly lost myself and had no idea
It had some cute moments but it was just not a book I would probably reread again or recommend to anyone in my age group. I have been told the second book gets better but at this moment I am not running to read that one just yet.
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what was going on, I was pretty bored the first half of this book and I honestly think I was just reading to read. I am so sorry I do not like to give negative reviews but this book was just not for me. To be fair it really got interested towards the end and for this I will overall give it a 2.5 rating. It's listed for young adult however in my honest opinion I say the target audience for this book should be earlier teen, like 13 to 15. It had some cute moments but it was just not a book I would probably reread again or recommend to anyone in my age group. I have been told the second book gets better but at this moment I am not running to read that one just yet.
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Awards
Soaring Eagle Book Award (Nominee — 2022)
Gateway Readers Award (Nominee — 2023)
Florida Teens Read Award (Nominee — 2022)
Reese's Book Club (2020 — 2020)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2021)